Very Joe & Bullish

1/24/16

What a victory we received on June 26th, 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled that laws against same-sex marriage were un-Constitutional. And what a moment of great joy for me, my family, my community and my country! We have worked so hard to achieve this moment. I still feel that a great sense of satisfaction and contentment. No longer do I feel like I am a second-class citizen, at least in many of the blue states of America, I have most of the same rights as heterosexuals. A big THANK YOU to Barack Obama, who has done so much to make the lives of LGBT Americans more equal and better. (Read the long list of the President Obama's accomplishments to better the lives of the LGBT.) I am glad that I supported him since he decided to run for president. But we have much more work to do to ensure LGBT equality in housing, the workplace, and other areas throughout the country. We are dismantling the remaining pillars of institutionalized homophobia at every turn. In particular, I am working on making religious institutions and the world of sports more welcoming for the LGBT. On a broader level, I believe that 'none of us are free until all of us are free' so I will continue to advocate for laws and policies that provide more equality for women, racial and ethnic minorities, the poor, etc. I feel that it is time to sunset this blog and invest my time and energies in emerging projects. You can follow me on my two twitter accounts if you want to keep up with what I am thinking and advocating for:- JoeandBullish- EqualandProudThank you for visiting my blog and sharing this journey over the last five years with me. I send you my love, and remain very joe and bullish.

10/30/14

Reason #1: They don't buy into conventional wisdom about what is "likely to happen." They create their own reality, by showing up, doing each thing to the best of their ability, and having patience with themselves and the game

Reason #2: They play as a tight team, recognizing each other's strengths and abilities.

Reason #3: They are resolute. When they fail like they did in game 6, they get up and dust themselves off and try their best again.

10/22/14

Headlines called it a “setback” for Pope Francis that the initial draft of the synod of bishops released last week that spoke of “welcoming homosexual persons” was silent on them in the final document. But I don’t see it that way at all. The pope let the genie out of the bottle. And, as we all know, it’s difficult to put him back in once released.

What the synod did at the outset on paper, Pope Francis has been doing since ascending to the papacy. He’s been talking about gays and lesbians in the Catholic Church with an unheard-of humanity and care. So what that the more conservative bishops succeeded in watering down the gay paragraphs so much they couldn’t get the two-thirds majority necessary to include them in the new document released on Oct. 18. They may have won this battle, but they aren’t going to win the bigger battle with this pope...

...As Francis said yesterday during his homily, “God is not afraid of new things! That is why he is continually surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways.” By the time the bishops reconvene next October to finalize the synod document, we might be looking at a very different outcome.

What could happen in the Catholic Church is analogous to what is happening in the United States. As I wrote this morning, in an odd way, the anti-gay political maneuverings of President George W. Bush and the sneering anti-gay Supreme Court dissents from Justice Antonin Scalia sparked a national conversation and action among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans that has resulted in same-sex marriage being legal in more than 30 states and support for it at 59 percent.

No, no, no. I’m not saying the church or the pope will become a champion of LGBT rights. And I’m definitely not saying they are going to support marriage equality. What I am saying is that by talking about the humanity of gay and lesbian Catholics and worrying about their place in the church, Pope Francis is openly recognizing them as children of God. After centuries of demonization, that’s a revolutionary act that can’t be undone.

Welcome

I am interested in guys, spirituality, innovation, sports, politics, cars, and human rights for all, including LGBT people. My Spanish ancestry, May birth sign, and personality (optimism and stubbornness) inform the name of this blog.

An American President

All love is equal

An articulate 12-year-old boy reminds us of what life is all about: choosing love

This young, straight Hawaiian is a fierce advocate for equality and love, promoting marriage for all people. He's quite a young man.

The connection between these two men is beautiful. My favorite wedding video.

Listen to retired German pro soccer player Thomas Hitzlsperger talk about being out and proud to be gay.

This song "Same Love" pretty much captures the journey toward love and ful equality for the LGBT. It may become our anthem.

This is the reality of gay people raising children. Nothing to fear; only love to celebrate.

Barb Young is an articulate and passionate straight ally for the LGBT. She is clear that love is winning over fear as gay people take their rightful place as full members of society. She is also the wife of former San Francisco 49er legend, Steve Young. (Steve is fortunate to have a spouse like her.)

Inspiring moments

A true Buddha: an Iranian democracy protester protecting a fallen motorcycle policeman who had just charged him and the crowd.

Straight British MP David Lammy makes a compelling case for marriage equality: "separate but equal is a fraud." Watch him stand for truth and love.

Bon Iver reminds us that we are part of this beautiful world, not separate from it. While challenging, life is also glorious.

Like few people can, Andrew Sullivan makes a compelling case for marriage equality.

These gay and lesbian couples file to get married in North Carolina and they are refused. This is what institutionalized discrimination feels and looks like, just as African-Americans were segregated before the 1950s and women before that.

"One Day" by Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American, read at the 2013 Inauguration. He's also a gay man who lives with his partner in Maine. How American!

I appreciate the sportsmanship, humility & love of Andres Iniesta. He scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup. With the eyes of the world upon him, Andres takes off his jersey to reveal a hand-printed shirt honoring a deceased team mate. And he is a shy hottie, too!

Click on this above photo to hear Hillary's landmark speech on LGBT rights to the U.N. I couldn't be prouder of her advocacy of gay people and work as a secretary of state. America is now respected again in the world.

This is what homophobia and bullying do to young people: make them hate themselves. This teenage boy, Jonah Mowry, has been bullied since he was in 1st grade. This is wrong and society must condemn and censure bullying. We all are connected.

Nothing is more beautiful or powerful than giving love to someone you don't even know, and that's why I celebrate this video made by Jonathon, a young man in Los Angeles, in response to the video above this one.

Some of my heroes

Woodrow Wilson, Louis Brandeis, Earl Warren

Mary Bonauto

Anita Hill

Duncan McAlpine Sennett

Ella Baker

Cesar Chavez

Frank Mugisha

Sixto Rodriguez

Pope John XXIII

Travis Tygart, Tyler Hamilton, Betsy Andreu

Ryan Andresen & Brian Burke

Sargent Shriver

Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara

Wael Ghonim

David Kato

Bishop Gene Robinson

MLK

Patrick Murphy

Jill Biden & Michelle Obama

The millions of LGBT people across the world who have the courage and love to accept themselves